Foreign-Trained Nurses Can Help Fill Critical Gaps in the Healthcare Sector

As the U.S. healthcare system grapples with a critical nursing shortage, maintaining lawful, streamlined immigration pathways for foreign-trained nurses is essential to ensuring effective and continuous patient care.

A recently published article by Digital Health Insights (DHI) highlights the severity of this shortage, which is exacerbated by tightening immigration policies and a growing number of nurses leaving the profession.

 

Drawing on data from the Migration Policy Institute, DHI notes that as of 2021, nearly 20%, approximately 2.8 million, of healthcare workers in the United States are immigrants.

 

The total supply of RNs in the U.S. decreased by more than 100,000 from 2020 to 2021, which is the greatest drop in the past 40 years. Between 2020-2022, nursing turnover skyrocketed to 27% nationwide.

 

Due to high demand and Department of State backlogs, foreign-trained nurses who qualify for a Green Card are currently waiting more than two years to enter the U.S. after their cases are approved. An approved case indicates the foreign-trained nurse meets all U.S. requirements to enter the profession and has a U.S. employer sponsor.

 

To address these barriers, DHI proposes innovative solutions, such as extending the National Interest Waiver for Physicians to include other healthcare professionals. Likewise, it suggests that the U.S. follow the example of countries like Canada and the United Kingdom, which have implemented dedicated healthcare visa programs.

 

Meeting the U.S. healthcare workforce shortage—particularly in nursing—requires accessible and effective legal pathways for foreign-trained professionals.